N = New listing appearing on list for first timeR = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks

Commentary:

* Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days slips a bit more down to #7 on the overall list, with R. Crumb's Genesis not much further away at #12; but with Genesis's first print now sold out, we might see it slip a good deal unless a second printing can be put out soon (buyers tend to shy away when Amazon says availability is '1 to 3 months').

* The highest debut, at #7, comes as a bit of a surprise; perhaps the Wimpy Kid parody cover is giving Tales from the Crypt #8 a push?

* Three manga debuts hit the chart this week. Other debuts are Marvel's Pride and Prejudice collection; the latest Scalped collection, and (squeaking in at #50) a Fables deluxe hardcover.

* I'm just as mystified by Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds shooting up the Amazon charts as you are.

N = New listing appearing on list for first timeR = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks

Commentary:

* Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days fell to #4 on the overall bestsellers list (due in some part to the Amazon-Walmart book price war which is pushing some hardcovers down to just $9) but that's still plenty enough to keep it at #1 on the Comics & Grpahic Novels chart. The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb is at #16 on the overall chart, while the other Wimpy Kid volumes check in at #43, #51 & #64.

* Following on the heels of his Bible adaptation, R. Crumb's Heroes of Blues, Jazz, & Country is the highest debut at #12. The Wolverton Bible pops in at #39, no doubt also riding the underground-cartoonist's-bible-adaptation zeitgeist.

* Simon's Cat, apparently a cartoon book based on a series of YouTube videos, debuts at #22; the latest Jack of Fables debuts at #27 & Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds debuts at #31. Four more collections peek in with debuts near the bottom of the list.

N = New listing appearing on list for first timeR = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks

Commentary:

* Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days is not just top on the Comics & Graphic Novels charts, it's also the #1 book overall on Amazon. It outsells Sarah Palin & Dan Brown & Stephen King (at the 2, 3, & 4 slots respectively). The Last Straw weighs in at #24 on the overall chart, the first volume is at #44, and Roderick Rules is at #50.

* What to make of the block of #11-16, all of which made huge jumps up the chart this week?

* The highest debut belongs to The Amazing Spider-Man Pop-Up, published by Candlewick. In fact, the only two entries on the top 50 that feature Marvel's super-heroes are published by entities other than Marvel (The Marvel Encyclopedia comes from DK Publishers). I suspect that Marvel's new corporate overlords will have something to say about this state of affairs...

* Other debuts this wee are a Doonesbury collection, an older Complete Peanuts Box Set, and the 3rd volume of Dog Style, which appears to be a Yaoi title.

N = New listing appearing on list for first timeR = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks

Commentary:

* A big week for strip collections: The first Bloom County compilation hops up into the top ten, while the pre-order for the second comes in at position 20; And two new Dilbert items debut at #11 & #32, and the previous collection also sneaks back onto the list.

* Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days is at #2 on the overall bestseller list, just behind Dan Brown and just ahead of Sarah Palin. (Where the Wild Things Are is at #10 on the overall list, but is not included on the Graphic Novel chart.)

* The Other debuts this week are the latest volume of Berserk, The Umbrella Academy: Dallas, and Hellboy Library Edition Volume 3.

N = New listing appearing on list for first timeR = Item returning to the list after having been off for 1 or more weeks

Commentary:

* A huge debut this week for Logicomix, which jumps right up onto the charts at the #2 position; this is the biggest debut since I started tracking these rankings.

* Not to be outdone, the #1 title, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, hits #4 on the overall books bestsellers. (Logicomix weighs in at #48 on the overall list.)

* Four manga titles debut this week, including the newest Naruto volume at #20.

* Marvel place five titles this week in the bottom half of the list, including debuts for the Astonishing X-Men Omnibus and the Ultimatum collection; also, the new eidtion of the DK-published Marvel Encyclopedia enters the rankings as well. SO a relatively big week for Marvel.